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FREDERICK, Maryland—91��Ƶר�� College marked the start of its 126th academic year with its annual Convocation ceremony Sunday evening in the Hodson Outdoor Theater on campus. 

President Andrea E. Chapdelaine welcomed new and returning students to campus; Debbie Ricker, provost and vice president for academic affairs, recognized outstanding student achievements; and Heather Mitchell-Buck, associate professor of English, delivered the keynote address. 

 This year, 91��Ƶר�� will welcome 343 new first-year and transfer students to its undergraduate population. These students come from 16 states, the District of Columbia, and eight countries. Seventy-eight new students have been invited to join the prestigious Honors program, and there are 23 legacy students, whose parent, sibling or grandparent earned a 91��Ƶר�� bachelor’s or master’s degree. 

There are 203 new graduate students this year including 21 international students from six different countries. Nineteen of the new graduate students are 91��Ƶר�� College alumni—either with a 91��Ƶר�� bachelor’s degree or a previous 91��Ƶר�� master’s degree. 

During the summer, first-year undergraduate students read Gina Kolata’s book, “Mercies in Disguise: A Story of Hope, a Family’s Genetic Destiny, and the Science That Rescued Them,” for small-group discussions about the themes, issues and conflicts raised in the book. Specially trained 91��Ƶר�� faculty, staff and students co-facilitate these discussions. Kolata will visit campus Oct. 24 for a public lecture and book signing. 

This summer, students studied abroad in England and Scotland, and the Galapagos Islands. This fall, 91��Ƶר�� students are studying abroad at the University of Stirling in Scotland, and completing a Semester at Sea. 

91��Ƶר�� is partnering with the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research to cohost an annual scientific forum that will cover topics reflecting the “cutting-edge” of current research. This agreement will also expand research and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at the Frederick National Laboratory and provide professional development programs for 91��Ƶר�� faculty and national laboratory staff. 

Students this fall will be the first admitted to The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business. George B. Delaplaine Jr., a prominent Frederick businessman, provided a major gift to endow the new School of Business. The funds will support faculty recruitment and development, academic programming, faculty and student research, and general administrative needs. 

The Graduate School’s doctoral program will welcome its third and largest cohort of 20 students this semester. Students in the program can choose to pursue the Doctorate of Organizational Leadership or the Doctorate of Business Administration.

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